parts : 66 cm or smaller, in case 68 cm

Title and author's French name from case spine

"The engraved edition of this work, completed in 1810 and printed under the auspices of the University of Moscow, was almost entirely destroyed in the Moscow fire of 1812. The only copy which we were able to trace is one in the library of the Moscow Society of Phenomena of Nature, described in the bio-bibliographical dictionary of botanists issued by this society in 1950, which characterizes the work as a "great bibliographical rarity". From this source we learn that the author, Peter Hofman, was a physician and professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Medicine, which may account for the inclusion of many medicinal plants in the work."--Bookseller? datasheet

"The original paintings were produced during the reign of Catherine the Great, who actively encouraged artistic, cultural and scientific endeavors in Russia, and they stem from the collection of her son, Czar Paul I. The elaborate dedications to various members of the imperial family are further indication that the work was subsidized by the court. One of these dedications is addressed to Prince Alexander Pavlovich (1777-1825), the son of Paul I, who ruled Russia as Czar Alexander I from 1801 until his death in 1825, and another to his mother, Maria Feodorovna of Wuerttemberg, the second wife of Paul I."--Bookseller? datasheet

"Exemplaire de l'Empereur Paul I"--On case spine

"While there are no indications of the artist responsible for these illustrations, it is very probable that many of them are the work of Christian Gottfried Heinrich Geissler (1770-1844), the German engraver and illustrator who was active in St. Petersburg and in Southern Russia during the years 1790-98, and who had also worked as illustrator for the famous botanist P.S. Pallas."--Bookseller? datasheet

"[This is a] Russian florilegium not recorded by Nissen and the usual bibliographies, not in B.M. (N.H.) or N.U.C. The work was published with a total of 200 plates between 1797 and 1810 under the supervision of the State Medical College. The first 140 plates were later reissued, and some of them were re-engraved. Cf. Svodnyi Katalog no. 1602, listing 3 copies in USSR: the Lenin Library (complete); Leningrad Public Library (parts 1-6 only) and the State Historical Library (parts 1-4 only). Sopikov/Rogozhin 10992; Obol'ianinov 2532 (listing the first 100 plates)."--Christie's https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/hoffman-gofman-peter-martynovich-sobranie-liubopytstva-dostoinykh-1019400-details.aspx (viewed November 7, 2019)

English-language translation of Russian-language (Cyrillic) first dedication in fascicle 1: "To his Highness the heir to the throne of all Russia the most noble master Czarevich Alexander Pavlovich, this folder which is a fruit of the encouragement and generosity of his imperial highness, humbly presents Piotr Gofman."

Pomazannit︠s︡i︠e︡ Bozhīeĭ Velikoĭ Gosudarynie Marīi︠a︡ Ḟeodorovny Imperatrit͡sy Vserossiĭskoĭ Gosudaryni︠e︡ ..."--Fascicle 2

Fascicle N. 1: Three unnumbered full-page color plates: Gloiosa superba -- Gentia Asclepiadea -- Amaryllis Vittata -- Dedication page to Alexander Pavlovich [dedication surrounded by a speckled border and, adorned with a spray of morning glories] -- Numbered color plates: Plate 21. Salvia officinalis -- Plate 22. Arctium Lappa -- Plate 23. Spigelia Marylandica -- Plate 24. Amomum Curcuma -- Plate 25. Atropa Belladonna -- Sobranīe li︠u︡bopytstva dostoĭnykh predmi︠e︡tov iz t︠s︡arstva proizrastenīĭ. [Engraved title page for part 6] -- Engraved dedication to Alexandra Pavlovich, wife of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary -- Plate 26. Heracleum Sphondylium -- Plate 27. Mentha Crispa -- Plate 28. Scilla Maritima -- Plate 29. Iris Germanica

Fascicle N. 2: Title page for parts 3 and 4 [title in a floral border surrounded by butterflies and a caterpillar] -- Engraved dedication page to Empress Maria Feodorovna -- Numbered color plates: Plate 12. Rubia Tinctorum -- Plate 13. Convolvus Jalappa -- Plate 14. Laurus Camphora -- Plate 15. Digitalis -- Plate 16. Hyssopus; Gentia Centaurium Minus; Melilotus [3 images on plate] -- Plate 17. Glycyrrizha Glabra -- Plate 18. Aloe Succotrina -- Plate 19. Cambogia -- Plate 20. Conium Maculatum -- Four unnumbered pages, inserted: "Opisanie risunkov ..." [Description of the illustrations of the third and fourth part]

Fascicle N. 3: Title page [speckle technique used to simulate marble; hand-painted architectural setting, with a flower and a vase with flowers in the foreground, and a statue with a flower basket and, a wreath on the balustrade toward the right] -- Numbered color plates: Plate 22. Iris Silvestris; Iris Pseudoacurus [2 images on page] -- Plate 23. Contrayerva Officinalis; Scilla [2 images on plate] -- Plate 24. Ginseng Sinensium [to right of plant is an Asian man standing next to the plant, the plant enlarged in proportion to the man] -- Plate 25. Helleborus Albus, Cochicum [2 images on plate] -- Salvia Hortensis Major; Salvia Agrestis; Scorodonia [2 images on plate] -- Plate 27. Althaea Officinalis; Bardana [2 images on plate] -- Plate 28. Piper Nigrum; Piper Longum; Zedoaria [3 images on plate] -- Plate 29. Melissa Turcica, Arnica officinalis [2 images on plate]-- Title page for parts 7 and 8 [a winged nymph inscribes words "Greece", "Rome", "Russia" on a stone pyramid ([country names in Russian-language (Cyrillic); swan in a pond in foreground] -- Numbered color plates: Plate 33. Guajacum Officinale -- Plate 34. Smilax Sassaparilla -- Plate 35. Hyosciamus Niger; Crocus Sativus [2 images on plate] -- Plate 36. [Veronica] -- Plate 39. Scordium; Calamus Aromaticus [2 images on plate] --Plate 40. Euphorbium

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